Method for producing dry extracts

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing dry extracts of plants and to pharmaceutical preparations containing the same, more particularly phytopharmaceuticals, which contain at least one ethanolic/aqueous extract of a plant (drug), the plants being selected from the group consisting of: Rumicis herba; Verbena officinalis; Sambucus nigra; Primula veris; and Gentiana lutea and mixtures thereof. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical for treating inflammatory and/or infectious diseases of the nose and throat area and/or the nasal sinuses, as well as the use thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A composition for treating sinusitis, rhinosinusitis or inflammation of the nasal sinuses in a human in need thereof consisting essentially of a therapeutically effective amount of a dry plant extract mixture wherein said dry plant extract mixture is obtained by a method consisting essentially of:
 a) obtaining a first extraction of Rumicis herba,  Verbena officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Primula veris  and  Gentiana lutea  with water and alcohol to produce a first supernatant; 
 b) separating the first supernatant to form a residue; 
 c) extracting the residue with water to form a second aqueous extraction to form obtain a second supernatant; 
 d) separating the second supernatant from the aqueous extractant; 
 e) combining the first supernatant and the second supernatant; and 
 f) drying the first and second supernatants to form the dry plant mixture which effectively treats the sinusitis, rhinosinusitis or inflammation of the nasal sinuses in a human in need thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of  Gentiana lutea :Rumicis herba: Verbena officinalis:Sambucus nigra:Primula veris  in step a) is 1:3:3:3:3. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water/alcohol extraction agent in step a) has a content of 40:60 (v/v) to 60:40 (v/v) water/alcohol. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water/alcohol extraction agent in step a) a content of 41:59 (v/v) water/alcohol. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water/alcohol extraction agent in step a) has a content of 50:50 (v/v) water/alcohol. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water/alcohol extraction agent in step a) is ethanol and water. 
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water/alcohol extraction agent in step a) is 96% ethanol. 
     
     
       8. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plants in step a) are provided together in a batch. 
     
     
       9. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction in steps a) and c) is carried out at 20 to 40° C. 
     
     
       10. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the extraction in steps a) and c) is carried out in 2 to 8 hours. 
     
     
       11. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drying process of step e) is carried out under vacuum at 30 to 60° C. 
     
     
       12. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drying process of step e) is carried out under vacuum at 40 to 50° C. 
     
     
       13. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the drying process of step e) is carried out in a vacuum agitated dryer. 
     
     
       14. The composition of  claim 1  for use as an antibacterial, antiviral or anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
       15. A method for treating sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, inflammation of the nasal sinuses, or treating a disease of the entire respiratory tract of a human in need thereof consisting essentially of administering the composition of  claim 1  in to the human in need thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, or inflammation of the nasal sinuses is in acute form. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, or inflammation of the nasal sinuses is caused by a disease of the entire respiratory tract. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the disease of the entire respiratory tract is a disease of the upper airways. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the disease of the entire respiratory tract is a disease in the region of throat, nose and nasal sinus mucous membranes. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the disease of the entire respiratory tract is cystic fibrosis.